Charleston Southern University faculty and staff teamed up with Trident United Way for Day of Caring, Sept. 11, and helped Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry and the Charleston Police Department disseminate information in hopes of solving two cold cases.
The GAs of Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Powdersville, held their first recognition service Aug. 26. They each received several badges for their hard work. From left are Lizzie Hix, Hannah Touchet, Kaelyn Calk, Lydia Merritt, Anna Hood and Emma Shirley.
First Baptist Church, Varnville, presented copies of the Law Enforcement Bible to every law enforcement official associated with the Varnville and Hampton police departments, the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hampton County area Highway Patrol during morning worship Sept. 10. From left: Troy Long, Hampton County Sheriff’s Office; Matt Davis, South Carolina Highway Patrol; Perry McAlhaney, City of Hampton Police Department; and Tommy Kelly, pastor, Varnville First Baptist. The Law Enforcement Bible is a resource offered by LifeWay Christian Stores that contains a special prayer and devotional section for those who serve in law enforcement.
Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church, Union County Baptist Association, held deacon ordination Aug. 26 for John Mullis and Tommy Inman. Pictured are (front row) Mullis; pastor Carrol Caldwell, Inman; and Jimmy Skinner, retired director of missions for Greer Baptist Association. Shown with them are other Padgett’s Creek deacons.
Union County Baptists held their fourth annual Union County Camp Meeting Sept. 9-12. Mike Whitson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Indian Trail, N.C., was speaker. Joyful Sound, New Vision, and a student group from Anderson University provided special music. Attendance ranged from 1,800 to 2,500 each night, and there were 61 professions of faith.
Holly Springs Baptist Church, Pickens, sent a team of 14 to Moline, Ill., Aug. 4-11 to conduct two backyard Bible clubs in local communities as well as an evening Vacation Bible School at Northcrest Calvary Baptist Church. Fifteen children accepted Christ as Savior. Team members included (back row) Pam Gravely, Johnny Summey, Jake Stewart; (middle row) Brenda Martin, Julie Summey, Libby Pimlott, Johnnie Newton, Evan Chastain, John Summey, Casey Stewart, Pat Stewart; (front row) Carolyn Durham, Amanda Cooper, Gwynne Chastain.
On Sept. 4, Francis Marion University nursing students started their clinicals at Bethea Baptist Retirement Community in Darlington. The coordinator for the program is Lynn Kennedy, MN, RN, who is also an assistant professor of nursing at Francis Marion. The school of nursing was looking for a good location to give students hands-on experience with patients. Kennedy said that “Bethea was a perfect mesh from the first time we walked in the door for a tour. We knew this would be the perfect location to give the students firsthand experience of taking care of people, not patients.” Ninety-one students are participating in the six-week program.
Susan Matthews was honored by New Zion Baptist Church, Lake City, for 40 years as pianist. During a surprise service, she was presented a plaque and the church’s music room was named the Susan Steele Matthews Music Room in her honor. A slide show, beginning with Matthews’ childhood, depicted her involvement at New Zion – leading children/youth ministries, children’s choir, Bible School and others.
Good Hope Baptist Church, Conway, will dedicate its new Christian Life Center and observe homecoming Oct. 7, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Music will be provided by Leona Harrelson and The Good Hope Quartet. Tom McElhaney – pastor of Four Holes Baptist Church, Orangeburg, who was pastor of Good Hope Baptist from 1985-1986 – will be the guest speaker. The new 7,200-square-foot Christian Life Center includes three offices, four classrooms and a kitchen. Good Hope Baptist Church began on what is now Hucks Road in a small log structure named Bugswamp Baptist Church. In 1877, a small frame structure was built near its current location at the intersection of Privetts Road and Adrian Highway, and the name was changed to Good Hope Baptist Church. John Wesley Sullivan, left, has been pastor of Good Hope since October 2003.
Elizabeth “Ms. Lib” Goldman retired from teaching at Redds Branch Baptist Church, Aiken, after 75 years. She started teaching when she was 13 years old and has taught young children, youth and young adults. For the last 57 years, she has taught the Senior Class, Willing Workers and Gibbs Bible Class. Class members gave her a pearl necklace and earrings because she was always a “pearl” to them. The congregation surprised her with a basket of cards in appreciation for her years of service to the church and her Christian example.
Pastor Scott Griffith and youth pastor James Steen lead members of First Baptist Church, Wagener, in celebrating 120 years of ministry and service to Wagener and the surrounding area.
Jimmie Farmer retired Aug. 12 after 11 years as pastor of Beaverdam Baptist Church, Williamston. He has been in the ministry 42 years and has served five churches, including Varnville First; Latta Baptist; Unity Baptist, Gastonia, N.C.; and Beaverdam. He and his wife Jane will reside in Spartanburg County.
A 30-member team from New Salem Baptist Church, Sumter, went to Bland, Va., July 2-5. Outreach efforts included Vacation Bible School, a community-wide cookout and worship in Bossievan, Va., and a clown ministry by Randy Bennett. Pastor Robert Rivers and Bobby June coordinated the trip. New Salem’s Children in Action and Mission Friends collected $255 as a missions project and purchased 140 boxes of cereal for The Bland Ministry Food Pantry. On Aug. 2, 70 bags of school supplies collected by the children as a “Christmas in August Back to School Supply” project were delivered to Abbs Valley, Va., for those who had attended VBS in July.